Wire feed mechanism



Aug. 29,1939. J. M. MINKOW WIRE FEED MECHANISM Filed Aug. 23, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l (/ZZZZIZZS M XV??? 1 0 w WWW Aug 29, 1939. m ow 2,170,830

WIRE FEED MECHANISM Filed Aug. 23, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 29, 1939 uurre srnrss WIRE FEED MECHANISM Julius M. Minkow, New York, N. Y., assignor to Robert Minkow, Richmond Hill, N. Y.

Application August 23, 1938, Serial No. 226,388

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a wire feed mechanism designed primarily for use in connection with machines for forming and driving wire staples, but it is to be understood that a feed mechanism, in accordance with this invention is for employment in any connection for which it may be found applicable.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a wire feed 10. mechanism including a pair of rotatable wire grippers coacting for intermittently feeding successive lengths of the wire to be acted upon, one of the grippers being latched when active, and means whereby the latched gripper may be expeditiously adjusted independent of and relative to the other for varying the extent of the intermittent feed.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a wire feeding mechanism including a pair of rotatable roll structures having coacting means for intermittently feeding successive lengths of wire to be acted upon, and with one of said coacting means being spring controlled, capable of being shifted to and from gripping position, adjustable, when in non-gripping position relative to the other coacting means to subsequently provide, when coacting with the latter for the varying of the extent of the intermittent feed.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, one of said roll structures aforesaid, with an adjustable wire gripper means, bodily moving with a slidable spring controlled carrier in the form of a gear adjustably intermeshing with a driving means therefor to releasably maintain the said gripper means in its adjusted position.

The invention has forits object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a Wire feed mechanism including a pair of rotatable roll structures having coacting gripping means for intermittently feeding successive lengths of the wire to be acted upon and with one of said means being slidable relative to the other and resiliently supported.

The invention has for another of its objects to provide a resilient support for the slidable gripping means aforesaid, said support being so formed and disposed in such relation to said means to prevent the discarding of the latter if the support becomes impaired and a new one substituted.

' The invention has for another of its objects to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a Wire feed mechanism including a pair of wire gripping means coacting with each other for intermittently feeding successive lengths of the wire to be acted upon, one of said means being spring controlled, bodily revoluble with and intermittently shiftable parallel to the axis of the 5 roll structure with which it is associated during the revolving of such structure, and the other of said means being bodily revolving with and fixed stationary to that structure with which it is associated.

The invention has for another of its objects to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a

' wire feed mechanism including a pair of oppositely revoluble wire feed roll structures for intermittently feeding successive lengths of the 15 wire to be acted upon, and with one of said structures capable of being adjusted independently of the other for varying the extent of the intermittent feed.

The invention has for another of its objects 20 to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth,

a wire feed mechanism for detachable connection to a machine of the type referred to and including a pair of oppositely-revoluble wire feed roll structures, intermeshing driven gears fixed to 25 said structures and a combined portable carrier and support for, common to and to which said structures are connected whereby the said mechanism may be bodily detached from the machine and expeditiously connected to another machine 30 when desired. 7

The invention. has for another of its objects to provide, in a wire feed mechanism, a pair of oppositely revoluble wire feed roll structures, one having fixed thereto a wire gripping means hav- 35 ing a working surface in the form of a segment of a circle, and the other having slidingly connected thereon a resiliently supported hollow gripping means having a working surface in the form. of a segment of a circle, said surfaces intermittently 40 coacting during each revolution of said structure for intermittently feeding successively lengths of the wire to be acted upon.

The invention has for a further object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a wire 45 feed mechanism including a pair of oppositely revoluble wire feed roll structures for intermittently feeding successive lengths of wire to be acted upon and whereby one of said structures may be expeditiously adjusted relative to the 50 other for varying the extent of the feed.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a wire feed mechanishm which is comparatively simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, 55

durable, compact, expeditiously installed with respect to the machine with which it is to be associated, readily bodily removed from the machine when desired, thoroughly efiicient in its use, conveniently repaired when occasion requires, and comparatively inexpensive to set up.

Embodying the foregoing aims and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings: 7

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the mechanism installed,

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2, Figure 1,

Figures 3, 4, 5 and front elevations respectively of the head, resilient support for the gripping means and retainer of the non-adjustable wire feed roll structure,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section on line 6-6, Figure 2, V

7 Figures 7 and 8 are, respectively, sections on lines 1-1 and 8-8, Figure 6, and

Figure 9 is an elevation of the driving means for the mechanism.

With reference to Figures 1, 2 and 9 therein is shown by Way of example, a chamber l5'formed in a portion I5 of a supporting structure constituting a part of the machine with which the wire feed mechanism, in accordance with this invention is to be associated. The chamber I5 is open at its front. The rear or back wall of chamber |5 is indicated at l8 and it is provided with a pair of spaced horizontally aligned openings I9, 20. The wall |8 has integral therewith forwardly and rearwardly directed collars 2|, 22 respectively, having their inner faces flush with the walls'of the said openings. Mounted in the openings H), 23 arebearing bushings 23, 24 respectively, which are also arranged within and flush with the free ends of the said collars. The operating shaft of the machine, with which the feed mechanism is associated is indicated 25 and extends into one end of the chamber l5.

That end of shaft 25 positioned within the chamber 15 carries a gear 26 which meshes with and drives a gear 2'l suspended from the wall |8 of chamber l5 and which is of less diameter than the gear 26. The gear 25 is to operate in an anti-clockwise direction and the gear 21 in a clockwise direction. The purpose of the gear 21 will 'be presently referred to. The wire feed mechanism, generally indicated at 28 is to be detachably connected to the structure IT .at the front of chamber l5. The mechanism 28 includes a one-piece support 29 which, by way of example, forms a closure for the major portion of the open front of chamber l5. The support 29 provides a carrier for the other parts of such mechanism and is provided with an oval-shaped recess 30 in its front face. The base or inner wall ofthe recess 30 is indicated at 3| and it is formed with a pair of horizontally aligned openings 32, 33 arranged in spaced relation. The rear face of wall 3| has integral therewithrearwardly extending bosses '34, 35 having their inner faces forming rearward continuations of the Walls of the openings 32, 33 respectively.

The boss 35 is of greater length than boss 34. Mounted in opening 32 and boss 34 is a bearing bushing 35 having its ends flush with the front face of wall 3| and the rear end of boss 34. Integral with the front face of wall l8 and forming a continuation of the wall of the opening 33 is a boss 36 of materially less length than boss 35. Mounted in the opening 33, boss 36 and extending rearwardly from boss 35 is a bushing or sleeve 31 having its front end flush with the front of boss 33*. The bushing 31 is of a length to extend to the forward end of bushing 24.

Mounted in the bushings 23, 33 and extending into the recess 30 is a shaft 38. Mounted in the bushings 24, 31 and extending through and forwardly from recess 30 is a shaft 39. Fixed to shaft 38 by a pin 39 is a gear 43. The latter is spaced from bushing 36 and is arranged in close proximity to a collar 2|. Mounted on bushing 37 and fixed to the latter, as well as to shaft 39, by the pin 4|! is a gear 4| arranged in close proximity to bushing 35 and the other collar 2|. The gears 40, 4| permanently mesh with each other. The mechanism includes a pair of revoluble feed structures 44, 45, operated by the shafts 38, 39 respectively. The shaft 38 and gear 4|] form elements of structure 44. The shaft 39 and gear 4| form elements of structure 45. The structure 44 is non-adjustable. The structure 45 is adjustable for the purpose of varying the extent of the intermittent feed.

The outer end of shaft 38 has formed integral therewith a circular head 46 positioned against the outer face of the wall 3| and of greater diameter than opening 32. The head 45 is formed of an inner circular part 47 and an outer circular part 48 of less diameter than and concentrically disposed with respect to the part 4'1. The outer or front face of part 41 is provided with an annular groove 49 which surrounds the point of mergence between the parts 41, 48. The head 46 axially thereof is formed with a threaded socket 55 opening at the front of part 48. The part 48 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed sockets 5| spaced adjacent to opposite sides of the mouth of the socket 55.

'The feed roll structure 44 includes the head 45, a shiftable carrier 52 for a wire gripper or cam 53, a resilient support or tensioning element 54 for carrier 52, a retainer 55 for the carrier 53 positioning dowels 56 for the retainer 55 and a coupling screw 51 for detachably connecting the head 46 and retainer 55 together.

The gripper 53 is an integral part of the carrier 52 and bodily moves therewith. The carrier 52 is spring-urged by the element 54. Owing to the manner in which the carrier 52, gripper 53 and element 54 are correlated and their arrangement with respect to the head 46, the gripper 53 is not only spring-urged, but it is also slidably arranged relative to head 46.

The carrier 52 is substantially of rectangular contour and formed with a circular opening 5! of materially greater diameter than the head part 48. The carrier 52 has its lengthwise or side edges straight and one of its end edges throughout of a contour corresponding to a segment of a circle and which provides the wire gripper or cam 53. The other end edge 58 of carrier 52 is straight and merges into the rounded corners 59. The length of the carrier 52 is greater than the diameter of and has its ends permanently disposed in extended relation with respect to head 46. The carrier 52 is arranged diametrically of head 46 and positioned against and is slidable relative to the front face of head part 41. The head part 48 is arranged in the opening 5'! and flush with the front of carrier 52. The resilient support or tensioni-ng element 54 for the carrier 52 is in the form of a split resilient ring 50 of an outer diameter substantially corresponding to the diameter of and having its outer face permanently bearing against the wall of opening 51 The ring 6E3 seats in the groove 89 and its body is of a width to extend from the base of the groove 49 to the'front face of carrier 52. The ring as normally tends to hold the carrier 53 in the position shown in Fi ure 6 and acts as a resilient abutment for the gripper or cam 53 when the latter is active.

The retainer 55 comprises a circular body part El formed axially thereof with a countersunk opening 52. Integral with the body part 6| is a pair of diametrically opposed inwardly extending spaced flanges 0r confiners 63 having straight inner edges 64 and outer edges 65 of arcuate contour. The carrier 52 is confined between the inner edges as of the flanges 63. Secured to the said body part 6i and extending inwardly therefrom are the positioning dowels 56 which engage in the sockets 5i. The coupling screw 57 extends through and has its head countersunk in the opening 62. The screw 51 has threaded engagement with the wall of socket to and acts to connect head 46 and retainer 55 together whereby the carrier 52 is held on head part 13.

The feed roll structure 45, not only includes the shaft 39 and gear 4!, but also the bushingor sleeve. 3'! and a disc 66 formed integral with the forward end of bushing 31. Disc 65 is provided with an axial opening 6'! for the passage of shaft 39. The disc 68 operates in recess 3E, has its rear surface bearing against boss 35* and is of materially greater diameter than shaft 39. Secured to the front face of disc 65, as well as being flush with the outer edge of the latter, is an annulus 68 having its inner edge 69 toothed throughout. The annulus 68 is in the form of an internal ring gear. The spaced holdfast means iii are employed for securing the annulus: 68 to the front face of disc The disc 55 and annulus t8 coact to form a comb ned coupling and driving element for a revolubly adjustable wire gripper carrier H. The latter is: bodily shiftable lengthwise of shaft 39, is spring controlled and consists of a disc '52 of less diameter than disc 56, formed with an axial opening 13 for the passage of sha t 39, has its outer edge 14 toothed throughout and merges into an outwardly directed tubular hub l5 which terminates at its outer end into the inner end of an 01fset tubular grip H5 forming a socket H. The outer end of grip '56 is formed with an external annular flange it. The base 1'8 of socket l1 forms a shoulder which coacts with a shoulder 19 formed by the inner surface of a head 19 integral with the outer end of shaft 39. The grip it encompasses shaft 39 and within the Socket 1'! thereof is arranged a controlling spring for the carrier H. The spring 88 surrounds the shaft 39 and is interposed between the base of socket Ti and the shoulder l9 on head 19 The structural arrangement aforesaid provides for the shifting of the carrier outwardly from disc 66 against the action of spring Bil. The latter normally tends to maintain the carrier interengaged with the combined driving and coupling element, whereby the carrier will bodily rotate with said element on the operation of structure 45. The head it constitutes a guide for the grip Hi, and further acts to maintain the grip and shaft in coaxial arrangement.

The wire gripper forming an element of structure 45 is indicated at 8!, and consists of a place of segmental contour. The gripper 8| has a curved inner edge 82 for seating against the hub 15. The gripper 8| is positioned against the front face of carrier 1 l, and it is fixedly secured in such position by the spaced holdfast devices 83. The width of gripper 8| is such as to extend beyond the toothed edge of the carrier. The gripper 8| has its outer or working edge 84 spaced inwardly adjacent to the outer edge of disc 66. The carrier, hub and gripform an adjusting means for the gripper 8|. The said adjusting means and the combined coupling and driving element have coacting parts, i. e., the teeth of said means and the teeth of said element for latching or detachably connecting said element and means together for moving in unison. The controlling spring 89 functions to maintain the said means and element latched together, whereby when the said means is driven from and in unison with said element, the gripper 8| will be held in its adjusted position.

The outer face of gripper 8| bordering its outer or working edge is formed with suitable indicia or graduations 85 for indicating the extent of adjustments relative to the gripper SI, and which are correlated with a pointer 86 secured to the support 29 over the roll structure 55. The gripper 8| is adjusted in the arc of a circle towards and from gripper 53 to increase or decrease the extent of that part of the working edge B l of gripper 8| which coacts with the working edge of gripper 53 to provide the intermittent feed and the extent of such feed.

The gear 2'? meshes with and on the operation of shaft 25 drives the gear 4| in an anti-clockwise direction and which in turn drives the gear 40 in a clockwise direction, the result being the revolving of the wire feed roll structures 44, 45 in opposite directions; the structure 44 clockwise and the structure 65 anticlockwise. On the operation of the structures 44, 55, the grippers 53, 18 will coact to bite or grip the wire 8'5 which is positioned between said structures and intermittently feed successive lengths of the wire to be acted upon. The adjusting of the gripper 8! with respect to the gripper 53 is for varying the period of duration of the grip or bite had on the wire 87 by the grippers when intermittently feeding the wire whereby the length of that portion of the wire which is fed by the mechanism may be varied. The grippers coact to feed the wire during a part of each revolution of the structures 44, 45.

With reference to Figure 1, there is shown a guide means 88 for the wire El and a conductingoff means 89 for the successive lengths of the wire which are fed by the mechanism.

What I claim is:

1. In a wire feed mechanism, a pair of oppositely revoluble wire feed roll structures, each provided with a gripper, said grippers coacting on the operation of said structures for intermittently feeding successive lengths of wire to be acted upon, one of said structures including a revoluble slidably mounted carrier disposed for adjustment in an arcuate plane and to which the gripper of such structure is fixedly secured to, bodily carried with and disposed in extended relation thereto, and such structure including a revoluble driving element for the carrier, said element and carrier having coacting interengaging means for latching the carrier in its adjusted position to said element to be revolved by the latter, the sliding and adjusting of the carrier being relative to said element, and the adjustment of the carrier providing for the adjustment of the grip-per fixed thereto relative to the gripper of the other structure to vary the extent of the feed on the coaction of the grippers.

2. In a wire feed mechanism, a pair of oppositely revoluble wire feed roll structures each provided with a gripper, said grippers coacting on the operation of said structures for intermittently feeding successive lengths of wire to be acted upon, one of said structures including a revoluble slidably mounted carrier disposed for adjustment in an arcuate plane and to which the gripper of such structure is fixedly secured, bodily carried with and disposed in extended relation thereto, such structure including a revoluble driving element for the carrier, said element and carrier having coacting interengaging means for latching the carrier in its adjusted position to said element to be revolved by the latter, the sliding and adjusting of the carrier being relative to said element, and the adjustment of the carrier providing for the adjustment of the gripper fixed thereto relative to the gripper of the other structure to vary the extent of the feed on the coaction of the grippers, a controlling spring for the said carrier, the said controlling spring holding the latter and element normally in latching engagement.

3. In a wire feed mechanism, a pair of oppositely revoluble Wire feed roll structures, each provided with a gripper, said grippers coacting on the operation of said structures for intermittently feeding successive lengths of wire to be acted upon, one of said structures including an operating shaft, a spring controlled adjusting, operating, and carrier means for the gripper of such structure and to which such gripper is fixedly secured, said means being slidably mounted on said shaft and adjustable in an arcuate path, and a combined coupling and driving element for and fixed to said shaft, said element arranged rearwardly of and opposing said carrier means, said element and said carrier means having coacting parts for latching the carrier in its adjusted position to said element to be operated by the latter, the controlling spring for the carrier means holding said means and element in latching engagement.

4. In a wire feed mechanism, a pair of oppositely revoluble wire feed roll structures, each provided with a gripper, said grippers coacting on the operation of said structures for intermittently feeding successive lengths of wire to be acted upon, one of said structures including a revoluble slidably mounted carrier disposed for adjustment in an arcuate plane and to which the gripper of such structure is fixedly secured, bodily carried with and disposed in extended relation thereto, and such structure including a revoluble driving element for the carrier, said element and carrier having coacting interengaging means for latching the carrier in its adjusted position to said element to be revolved by the latter, the sliding and adjusting of the carrier being relative to said element, and the adjustment of the carrier providing for the adjustment of the gripper fixed thereto relative tothe gripper of the other structure to vary the extent of the feed on the coaction of the grippers, the coacting interengaging means of said element being arranged interiorly thereof, the coacting interengaging means of the carrier being arranged on the exterior thereof.

5. In a wire feed mechanism, a pair of oppositely revoluble wire feed roll structures, each provided a with gripper, said grippers coacting on the operation of said structures for intermittently feeding successive lengths of Wire to be acted upon, one of said structures including an operating shaft, a spring controlled adjusting, operating and carrier means for the gripper of such structure and to which such gripper is fixedly secured, said means being slidably mounted on said shaft and adjustable in an arcuate path, and a combined coupling and driving element for and fixed to said shaft, said element arranged rearwardly of and opposing said carrier means, said element and said carrier means having coacting parts for latching the carrier in its adjusted position to said element to be operated by the latter, the controlling spring for the carrier means holding said means and element in latching engagement, said element having the coacting parts thereof being in the form of internally arranged teeth, said carrier means having the coacting parts thereof in the form of externally arranged teeth.

6. In a wire feed mechanism of that type including a pair of oppositely revoluble wire feed roll structures, each provided with a gripper, said grippers coacting on the operation of said structures for intermittently feeding successively lengths of wire to be acted upon, one of said structures including a horizontally shiftable, normally latched, adjustable, slidingly mounted, spring controlled, revoluble carrier having the gripper of such structure fixed thereto, bodily revolving therewith and disposed in extended relation thereto, said carrier being adjustable in an arcuate path to adjust the gripper fixed theretoin relation to the gripper of the other structure for varying the extent of the intermittent feed of the wire.

JULIUS M. MDIKOW. 

